CSSA Faculty

The CSSA Program is lead by a team of distinguished professionals in the Student Affairs Field.

CSSA Faculty (2014-2015 academic year; in alphabetical order)

Teresita Alvarez-Cortez

Teresita Alvarez-Cortez is the Director of Diversity Initiatives and Programs for University Housing and Dining Services (UHDS). She also serves as an Associate Director for UHDS. Teresita earned her M.Ed. from Iowa State University and her B.A. in Sociology and Chicana/o Studies from UC Berkeley. Teresita is passionate about creating inclusive campus spaces for all students to thrive. She has been able to translate her values into meaningful opportunities for staff, student staff, and student residents. In addition to her work at UHDS, Teresita has worked in student life, multicultural affairs, and HS outreach programs, within community college and university settings. Her research interests include multicultural issues in higher education practice, social justice education for students and staff, and intersections of identities.

Tracy Bentley-Townlin
Tracy Bentley-Townlin has been working in higher education, serving as an advocate for students with disabilities and non-traditional students, since 1986. She received her BS in Communications Disorders and Psychology in 1987, a M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration in 1994 and her Ph.D. in Education in 2002. She has been the Director of Disability Access Services at Oregon State University since 1990 and Associate Dean of Student Life since 2007. She is an active member of NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, AHEAD – the national and international Association of Higher Education and Disability and ORAHEAD – the Oregon Association of Higher Education and Disability. She served as the AHEAD Affiliate Liaison, twice as the President of ORAHEAD, and two years as the Membership Officer. Her areas of research and teaching included the social, political and economic construction of disability, student identity development, and transition issues for non-traditional students.

Clare Cady
Clare is the Coordinator at the Human Services Resource Center, focusing on supporting students experiencing poverty, homelessness, hunger, and food insecurity. She is passionate about helping to create access to education for underserved student populations, and works to create real-world experiences that support student learning inside and outside of the classroom. Clare has also worked outside of higher education, spending time both in wilderness therapy and nonprofit community organizing. Clare’s research interests include gender in education, class/SES, experiential education, and practical applications of postmodern theory. Clare’s advising style can best be described as “coyote mentoring.” If you don’t know what that is, look it up, and drop her an email if you get the joke! Clare earned her MA in Education with a focus in Student Development from Washington State University in 2006 with a thesis titled: Traditionally-Aged College Women in Elected Leadership Positions.

Bruce Clemetsen
Bruce Clemetsen is the Vice President for Student Affairs at Linn-Benton Community College and has been connected with the CSSA program for 7 years. He earned his bachelors degree in economics and biology from Willamette University, his masters degree in College and University Administration from Michigan State University, and his doctorate in higher education administration from Bowling Green State University. Bruce has worked in residence life, greek affairs, student leadership development, orientation, institutional research, and enrollment management. Bruce is involved with the Oregon community college Student Success Oversight Committee, AACRAO, and NASPA. His current research interests are focused on educational partnerships, student swirl, and community college co-curricular engagement.

Daniel Newhart

Daniel Newhart is the Director of Student Affairs Research, Evaluation, and Planning office and is in his second year working with the CSSA program. He earned his bachelor degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from Purdue University, a master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University, and a doctorate in Social and Cultural Foundations of Education from The Ohio State University. Daniel has worked in residence life, multicultural affairs, social justice research, and student affairs research and assessment. He is involved with NASPA, ACPA, and ACHA, where he serves as the Statistical Editor for the Journal of American College Health. He is also the founder of the forthcoming Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry. His current areas of research include mixed methods inquiry in higher education, diversity issues in student affairs assessment and research, and competency building among student affairs professionals in the areas of research and assessment. He is currently the chair-elect of the Student Affairs Assessment Leaders, a national organization of people who are charged with leading assessment efforts for divisions of student affairs.

Dave Craig

Coming soon.

Don Johnson

Coming soon.

Jeff Kenney
Jeff Kenney is the Coordinator of LGBTQ+ Outreach & Services through Intercultural Student Services and is in his first year with the CSSA Program. He earned his bachelor of fine arts from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and his master of education from Clemson University. Jeff has worked professionally in Student Affairs for 6 years, with experience in housing and residence life, counseling and psychological services, and diversity education. His professional affiliations include ACPA, ACA, and the Consortium of College and University LGBTQ Professionals. Jeff’s research interests include white identity development, transnational concepts of gender and sexuality, and assessment methodologies in multicultural student affairs.

Kerry KincanonKerry Kincanon is the Head Advisor for University Exploratory Services Program and has been connected with the CSSA program for 13 years. He earned his bachelors degree in English from Wayne State College and masters degrees in English from Ball State University and in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University. Kerry has worked in academic advising and has strong connections to orientation and new student programs. Prior to his work in advising he taught writing and literature in community college and worked with faculty development programs. Kerry is involved in NACADA and his primary professional interest is in academic advising. Within advising, he is interested in advising philosophy and theory, advising undecided and exploratory students, and first-year college student transitions. Kerry also has a strong interest in the role that General Education coursework plays in the undergraduate experience and has been very active in helping OSU to develop, implement, and assess broad learning outcomes for its General Education requirements.

Dave Kovac

Dave Kovac is an Instructor for University Honors College and the Physical Activity Course Program and has been involved in the CSSA program for 15 years. He earned his bachelors from University of California Berkeley, masters at Oregon State University, and doctorate from University of Oregon. Dave has worked in student life, leadership development, recreational sports, housing, orientations, admissions, and athletics. Professional organizations Dave is involved in include US Soccer Federation, NIRSA (served as assistant editor for the NIRSA journal), NASPA, ACPA, Northwest College Personal Association, and Southern ACPA. His current areas of research and interest include organizational culture and organizational development; leadership theory, training, and development; experiential education; international service and learning; qualitative and multiple methods research; student development theory and college impact. Dave is also involved in Habitat for Humanity Global Village as a team leader and trainer. He is well-traveled and a mostly-fun guy.

Jeff Malone

Coming soon.

Daniel Newhart
Daniel Newhart is the Director of Student Affairs Research Evaluation and Planning office and is in his first year working with the CSSA program. He earned his bachelor degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from Purdue University, a masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University, and a doctorate in Social and Cultural Foundations of Education from the Ohio State University. Daniel has worked in residence life, multicultural affairs, social justice research, and student affairs research and assessment. He is involved in NASPA, ACPA, and ACHA, where he serves as the Statistical Editor for the Journal of American College Health. His current areas of research include mixed methods inquiry in higher education, diversity issues in student affairs assessment and research, and competency building among student affairs professionals in the areas of research and assessment.

Judy Neighbors

Coming soon.

Janet Nishihara
Janet Nishihara is the Director of Educational Opportunities Program and has been connected with the CSSA program for over 30 years. She earned her bachelors degree in English Education and master’s degree in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University and her doctorate in Educational Leadership at University of Oregon. Janet has worked in new student orientation, developmental education, and access programs for non-traditional students. Professional organizations Janet is involved include NASPA and NADE. Her current areas of research include identity development, critical race theory, first-year students, and access and achievements of students of color and first generation college students. Janet was born, raised, and taught English in Eastern Oregon.

Larry RoperLarry Roper is a Professor in the School of Language, Culture and Society, where he coordinates the social justice minor. He previously served as Vice Provost for Student Affairs (1995-2014) and has been connect with the CSSA program since 1995. He earned his bachelors from Heidelberg University, Masters at Bowling Green State University, and Doctorate from University of Maryland, College Park. He has worked in housing, career services, student conduct, multicultural services, and as dean of students. Professional organizations in which Larry is involved include: AAC&U, ACPA, and NASPA. Larry served as Editor of the NASPA Journal and is on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Journal of College and Character. His current areas of interest include: social justice, multiculturalism and diversity, community building, leadership, ethical issues on campus, and identity.

Larry currently serves as a Commissioner with the State of Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission.

Larry has more than 50 publications in the form of book chapters, journal articles, magazine articles, book reviews, and monographs. He is co-editor of the book, Teaching For Change: The Difference, Power and Discrimination Model (2007) and edited Supporting and Supervising Mid-Level Professionals: Charting a Path to Success (2011). He has also served on more than 65 thesis and dissertation committees, having chaired more than 25.

Larry finds student affairs works to be energizing and inspiring.

Ruth Sterner

Ruth Sterner is the First-Year Experience Coordinator within the office of New Student Programs and Family Outreach at Oregon State University. She has been connected with the CSSA, first as a graduate student and no as an instructor for 8 years. As the First-Year Experience Coordinator, she coordinates the U-Engage first-year seminar program, assists with the selection, training, and on-going support of U-Engage and other first-year orientation course instructors and peer leaders across campus, and also helps in the planning and implementation of Welcome Week programming and other first-year student initiatives. Ruth earned her bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado-Boulder and her master’s in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University. She has worked in student conduct (as a graduate assistant), academic advising (both as a graduate assistant and full-time), and orientation/first-year programming (as an undergraduate, graduate assistant, and full-time). Ruth’s current areas of interest within student affairs include first-year college transitions, cognitive psychology/learning theory, and academic advising for first-year and exploratory students.

Tom ScheuermannTom Scheuermann is Director of University Housing and Dining Services at Oregon State University, a position he has held for over twenty years. He has served on the faculty of the College of Education since 1993, where he teaches courses in the law of higher education and American higher education history, and advises several students in the CSSA program each year. Tom is a guest instructor in the CCLP program legal issues class and serves on doctoral committees in that program as well. He has served on the faculty of the ACUHO-I National Housing Training Institute (2004), and Chief Housing Officer Institute (2010). Tom’s scholarship includes articles in the Journal of College and University Student Housing and the Talking Stick, book chapters in ACUHO-I and NASPA publications, as well as numerous presentations on legal issues at ACUHO-I regional and national conferences. His research and writing focuses on legal issues in higher education, race and employment issues, and supervision and management. Tom served on the editorial board of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Journal (2000-03), and was assistant/associate editor of Synthesis: Law and Policy in Higher Education (1989-93). He received a B.S. in psychology, and M.A. in student personnel work in higher education from Ohio State University, and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America School of Law. Tom is a member of the District of Columbia, Maryland (inactive), and United States Supreme Court bars. Tom and his family live in Salem, Oregon.

Kris Winter
Kris Winter is the Assistant Dean of Student Life at Oregon State University. She has been connected with the CSSA program for 10 years. As Assistant Dean, she facilitates the Student Care Team and Threat Assessment Team…both involving working directly with students in crisis and distressed/disruptive students. She earned her bachelor’s degree (with honors) in Educational Studies at University of Oregon, her master’s in College Student Services Administration at Oregon State University, and is currently working on her doctorate in Higher Education Leadership at Portland State University. Her dissertation is looking at the use of noncognitive variables in the college admissions process.
Kris has worked in orientation, campus visit programs, first-year experience, parent and family programs, campus threat assessment, and crisis intervention/student care. Professional organizations Kris is involved with include NODA, NASPA, and ATAP. She is trained in campus threat assessment and emergency intervention. Her current areas of research include first-year college student transitions, equity within college admissions, and campus crisis intervention.

Melissa Yamamoto

Melissa Yamamoto is the Assistant Director for Leadership Development in the Department of Student Leadership and Involvement, and works out of the Center for Leadership Development. She is a CSSA alumna, and has been teaching in the program since 1999. She earned her bachelors in Developmental Psychology from Eastern Washington University and masters in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University. Melissa has worked in student housing/residential life, student leadership and involvement, and career development. Professional organizations in which Melissa is involved include NASPA and ACUI and has formerly been involved in ACPA, ACUHO-I, and NW-ACUHO. Her current areas of research are student development, leadership development, group and organizational development, diversity and social justice, community development, strengths-based approaches, and learning outcomes-based assessment.